Means for effecting vessel movement in a canal and lock



Aug. 13, 196s J. AUBERT' 3,396,540

MEANS FOR EFFECTING VESSEL MOVEMENT 1N A CANAL AND LOCK Filed March 12, 1965 United States Patent O 4 claims. icl. s1-s) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A canal and lock in which water inlet and outlets are disposed for effecting current flows in the lock and canal effective to move vessels in the lock laterally and more than longitudinally between the lock and canal. Water is supplied to the outlet from water-iilled reservoirs, connected to said inlet and outlets, at least one of which is higher than the level of the water in the canal andlock and one is lower than this level. The water flow between reservoirs is controlled by controlling the liow at outlets and inlets such that the current ows in the canal and lock are accomplished while still maintaining the general level of the lock and canal without substantial change.

The present invention relates to a construction for locks and canals, and for a method to displace vessels laterally, or longitudinally, without using their own power.

The passage of vessels through locks is usually slow; ships cannot stop like land vehicles by applying brakes. Furthermore, if ships travel under their own power into, or through locks, the resulting turbulence and disturbance of the water may create undesirable erosion and damage.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the handling of ships in and through locks and canals, and particularly to speed up the passage of vessels through locks.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for lateral displacement of ships or vessels to be placed within an enclosure, such as a lock, without use of the ships own power, or without external winching.

Briefly, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an artificial current is generated in the region where the vessel is situated, by withdrawing water from the region where the vessel is to move to, and supplying water in the area of the initial position of the vessel. Preferably, the amount of water withdrawn, and the water supplied, is substantially similar so that the general average water level is maintained. If the vessel is to be moved lengthwise, then water is applied at the bow, or at the stern, respectively, and withdrawn from the stern or the bow, respectively; if the vessel is to be moved laterally, then water is applied starboard, or portside, respectively, and withdrawn in an area where the vessel is to be moved to, portside or starboard with respect thereto.

The means for moving the vessel in accordance with the .above method, preferably includes water inlets and water outlets arranged either within a lock, or in a zone of a canal adjacent the lock. The water can be supplied from reservoirs, by means of pumps. These reservoirs may be at the upper, or lower level of a lock, respectively, or an upper and a lower `reservoir for ships moving upstream, and a lower and :an upper reservoir for ships moving downstream may be used. Alternatively, these reservoirs, or two of them may be combined.

The outlets supplying water to the lock, or to the canal, may be positioned either on the bulwarks of the locks, or may be placed at the bottom canal level.

The structure, organization and operation of the inice vention will now be -described more specifically in the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates, schematically, a lock and canal sections, with water level at the upstream canal end, and showing lengthwise movement of a ship;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, illustrating lateral displacement; and

FIG. 3 is a showing similar to FIG. l indicating the final position of the ships in passing.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like elements are referred to by like reference numerals, a lock is generally indicated as 1. Downstream lock gates 2 are closed; the upstream lock gates, since they would be open, are not shown :and have been left out for clarity in the drawing. Upstream of the lock, the upstream canal 3 continues, bordered by sides 3A, 3B. Downstream, canal 4 is indicated schematically only. Ships in transit are likewise indicated schematically at 5 and 6. yIn FIG. l, ship 5 is moving out of lock 1, upstream, as indicated by the arrow.

According to the present invention, the lock is provided ywith hydraulic displacement means, which include two reservoirs. To effect longitudinal, or lateral displacelments of ships at the level of the upper canal 3, two reservoirs are provided, H (High) at the same, or a higher level as that of canal 3; and reservoir, B (Base) at the same, or a lower level than the llevel of downstream canal 4. The operation, and sequence of permitting water to enter through valves shown schematically, will ybe described in connection with these reservoirs H and B. Similar reservoirs, h, at or higher than the level of canal 3, and b, at or lower than the level of canal 4, are provided for lateral and lengthwise displacement of ships which are already at the lower level, that is at the level of canal 4. The displacement of ships at this level will `be obvious after consideration of the displacement of ships at the level of canal 3.

Water may be pumped into the upper reservoirs in a well known manner, and not shown. The level at the lower reservoirs is best maintained by gravity. Reservoirs H and B, and h and b, need not be above and below the levels of canals 3 and 4; it is suiiicient if they are at, and lbelow the water line of -the body of water in which a current is to be set up.

Reservoir H is provided with a conduit 10 terminating in Ian orifice 11, preferably arranged on the bottom of the ship storage area of canal 3. lt should be close to the longitudinal center line of lock 1, and spaced from the end of lock 1 by a distance slightly longer than that of the -longest ship which the lock can handle. A conduit or pipe 12, terminating in an orifice 13 is located in the floor, or at the bottom end of the sidewalls of lock 1. A conduit or pipe 14 is provided, which ends in a multitude of outlets 15, located along the surface of the sidewall or bulwark 3A 0f the area of the canal designed for ship storage. Orifices 15 are spread out over the length of sidewall 3A by approximately the length of the longest ship the canal is designed to handle.

The flow of the water is controlled by valves or sluice gates 16, 17, 18 and 19; only one gate 19 is indicated in the drawing, similar ones being used for all the outlets 15 supplied by pipe 14.

Symmetrical to the arrangement of conduits, pipes, and sluice gates just described in connection with reservoir H, are conduits, pipes and sluice gates connected to the lower or base reservoir B. Thus, floor, or canal apron outlets 21, 23 are connected by means of conduits 20, 22 to reservoir B; these conduits are controlled by valves 26, 27. Side orifices 25, controlled by valve 29, are supplied by a side conduit 24, in turn controlled by a valve 28.

Similar valves, piping and controls are, of course, provided or reservoirs h and b. These are not shown in detail in the drawing to provide for more clarity.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, ship 5 has been lifted to the level of canal 3 within lock 1 and is ready to leave the lock, in the direction of the arrow. Sluice gates 17 and 26 are opened. Water will run from the high reservoir H, through conduit 12, outlet 13 into lock 1, and will be withdrawn through outlet 21, conduit and sluice gate 26 to the lower reservoir B. Thus, a current will be established, moving ship 5 in the direction of the arrow. Preferably, the amount of water added through .outlet 13 is equal to that withdrawn from outlet 21, in order to maintain the general water level constant. As soon as it appears that the ship will clear the lock, the ow is stopped, so that the ship will come to rest opposite vessel 6, as shown in FIG. 2.

Vessels 5 and 6 are now alongside of each other. If more ships are waiting to pass through the canal, vessel 5 will probably not be able to pass dead ahead, but will have to move towards starboard, to permit passage of other vessels, port to port.

In order to effect the lateral transposition of both vessels, sluice gate 18 and sluice gates 19 are opened in order to introduce water through conduit 14, and openings 15. Likewise, sluice gates 28, 29 are opened in order to withdraw water from openings through conduit 24 to the lower level reservoir B.

Just shortly before vessel 6 is aligned with the lock 1, valves 18, 19 and 28, 29 are closed, and the valves 16 and 27 are opened. Water being supplied to outlet 11 through conduit 10, by valve 16 from reservoir H, and water withdrawn from outlet 23 through conduit 22 and valve 27 to reservoir B, will set up a current which will move vessel 6 into the lock 1. The valves are closed again just before the vessel 6 is in position, so that the ship clears gates 2, and the upper gates of lock 1, not shown.

Vessel 5 may move out under its own power. The water level in lock 1 is then lowered, and the exit of vessel 6 from lock 1 by a current from reservoir h, upper inlet, to reservoir b, lower inlet on the drawing, can be accomplished similarly to the exit of vessel 5 from lock 1, previously described. The position of the entry of vessel 6 into lock 1 is illustrated in FIG. 3.

The method of longitudinally, and laterally displacing of vessels by setting up artificial currents in the water has been illustrated in connection with locks, and moving ships in a canal. It is, of course, equally applicable to movement of ships within given areas in a harbor, or wherever desired. The orifices 11, 13, for example, need not be permanently installed at the bottom, or on the apron of a lock or canal, but may be movable and connected by means of movable hoses. If the level of the upper reservoir H, or that of the lower reservoir B, is not above, or below the levels of canals 3 and 4, respectively, pumps may be used in order to reduce the circulation of water, as described, to set up the current.

In the above-identified example, four reservoirs have been used for complete movement ,of ships through a lock. It is of course also possible, to utilize only two reservoirs, one located above the level of canal 3 and one below the level of `canal 4. Suitable interconnections by means of conduits, and sluice gates will then have to be provided. It is also possible to use just three reservoirs, by utilizing a single reservoir for either the upper, or the lower level, respectively; thus, reservoirs H and h may be combined, with suitable conduits and sluice gates to control the flow of water. Usually, it will be preferable to have two upper reservoirs, H and lz; and if a combination of reservoirs is to be made, to combine the lower reservoirs B and b. It the level of t le reservoirs B and b, is not below that of the canal 4, then suction pumps connected for example, to conduits 2t), 22 may be used in connection with the respective reservoir.

The invention, therefore, provides a method to displace vessels, or if the length of the lock permits, for example a group or train of vessels or barges, by establishing an artificial current, that is by withdrawing water from the region adjacent the position which the vessels are desired to have; and supplying or introducing water at the starting position of the vessel, or vessels. Preferably, the amount of water withdrawn and supplied is approximately equal, and the water is introduced either at the floor, or apron of the body of water in which the vessels are situated, for lengthwise movement thereof, or along the broad side of the vessel, or vessels, for example near the water line `of the side walls, or bulwarks of a canal. The water to be supplied preferably is obtained from reservoirs, located above and below the water line of the body of water within which the vessels are to be displaced or moved. If the terrain does not permit displacement of reservoirs, motor driven lift and water evacuation pumps may be used.

I claim:

1. A lock and canal, and means to move vessels within said lock and canal, said means comprising a watercontaining reservoir at a level at least as high as that of a high water level of the lock; and a second water-containing reservoir below said high water level; water conduit means from each of said reservoirs to said lock; water outlet means located within said lock and connected to said water conduit means and disposed within said lock and remote from the exit to the canal; conduit means from each of said reservoirs to said canal; and outlet means connected to said second conduit means, said outlet means being located within the canal, substantially in line with said lock, and spaced from said lock by a length substantially equal to the length of said lock, and means in said conduits to control ow of water among said lock and the irst and second reservoirs to generate ow currents without substantially changing the level of Water in said lock and without application of work to said water to cause said currents to flow in directions for moving said vessels longitudinally and laterally within said lock as desired; and said outlets being disposed in positions for discharging water and removing water from said lock and canal in positions to etect said currents while maintaining the general level of water to said lock and canal generally level.

2. The combination of claim 1, further including outlet means located along both bulwarks of said canal, and conduit means connecting said outlet means to the one, and the other reservoir, respectively.

3. The combination of claim 1, in which said means in said conduits comprises further including valves in said conduit means, said valves controlling the ow of water from said reservoir to said outlet means whereby, upon introduction of water from the reservoir higher than said level, and withdrawal of water to said reservoir lower than said level, a current will be established within said lock and canal and move said vessel with said current.

4. In a canal and a lock having one gate opened in operation into a canal portion so that the water level is common to the canal portion and the lock, and means to move quickly vessels within and among said lock and canal portion, said means comprising water-containing reservoirs at least one of which is at a level above the highest water level in said lock and canal portion and at least another reservoir below the lowest water level; water conduit means from each of said reservoirs to said lock 4and canal portion; water outlet and inlet means connected to said conduit means located within said lock and in said canal portion substantially in line with said lock; means in said conduits operable in conjunction with the positions of said outlet and inlet means to control flow currents of water among said lock and a portion of said canal portion and said reservoirs to cause, without substantially changing the level of water, said currents in a given direction and in opposite directions for moving said vessels longitudinally from said lock to said canal portion 5 6 and vice-versa and to move said vessels laterally in said FOREIGN PATENTS 10Ck- 2o 95s s/1905 Austria. References Cited 526,978 7/1921 France. UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 347,679 1/1922 Germany. 319,303 6/1885 Neugues 61-7 3841479 11/1923 Germany- 435227 8/1890 Inglis 61 8 565,297 11/1923 France- 725,927 4/1903 Bradley 61-7 1,530,394 3/1925 Muller 61 8 EARL I. WITMER, Primary Examiner. 

